I didn't think I was going to like it at all, but it didn't feel as forced as I thought it would be like the Toqger X Kamen Rider special. You can either include this as canon or not which I like as a viewer of the show.

Honestly, the Gaim/TokQGer special felt more natural to me. I guess it's because they decided to make it's own thing rather then trying to shoehorn it into their series.

http://www.tokunation.com/attachment...1&d=1400596449
Hi kids! Dr Ryouma here! Let's have fun with SCIENCE!

Here we have the perfect example, your best mad scientist friend loans you his android. What should we do to see how it works kids?

http://www.tokunation.com/attachment...1&d=1400596449

That's right kids! Make sure that the lines on your forehead are straight! That bone saw must go clean through to get all that lovely spongy brain scooped out into that robot!

Remember kids, only with proper vivisection can you do SCIENCE!

^THIS exactly. haha I was going. "RYOUMA WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" basically throughout this scene.

..although I am not sure what it implies but...would that mean...somehow he inserted his brain in there....I don't want to think how much crazy Ryouma is.

well, I guess anything for more data. XD

It is a really weird creative decision, but I thought it was pretty fun for the character though.

Yeah, this was definitely the most . . . 'disturbing' I've seen Ryouma be - cutting out his own brain and then putting it back again. The last time I got a shock like this was in the Wizard Magic Land movie where Wizard and Beast walk in and see the huge tank full of human skeletons. Moments like that having me going: "WHAAAAT? NO WAAAY!" as to how potentially morbid they are.

As for it being an episode of Gaim, I really liked it. I liked how it expanded on a few elements of the show subtly, such as how Kouta has always seen Micchy as his intellectual superior (when he scratches his head and asks him to translate for him), or how we see that Kouta has always been a caring soul wanting to help people/creatures, even in his childhood.

Have to say the episode was very entertaining and yeah Ryouma is the stereotypical evil genius at this point, though I'm wondering how did he get his brain out and then back in again without killing his human body? The fight scene at the end was just beautiful and it was sweet watching both Gaim and Kikaider beat the day lights out of Ryouma. I also think that was the first time we saw that type of Invest before unless that's supposed to be a bad guy from Kikaider.

My thoughts about this episode is...excellent. I loved this episode and it made me glad to see Micchy acting kind of like old Micchy. Not to mention, Ryouma is just simply crazy, inserting his brain into Haikaider. I also loved Jiro, he was kind, warm-hearted, and a very well-played character. Also, loved when Kouta and Kikaider teamed up to defeat Ryouma in Haikaider suit. But I kind of felt sad, when Jiro/Haikaider left off after he was rebooted. Overall, another great series from the fantastic series of Gaim.

Do I need to watch this episode in order to get 31?

Nope.